Chapter 164: Snake Ancestor's Approval

Chapter 164: Snake Ancestor's Approval

Fang Huas eyes faded, from black to gray, from gray to white. Her shoulders relaxed, and her expression turned blank once more. The green lines faded from her fingers, and the black blood vanished as well. She stepped toward Hui silently.

Hui took another step back, then stood, waiting. Casually, he tucked his hands into his sleeves. Though he looked relaxed, internally, he tensed. Inside his sleeves, he touched a few talismans, ready to throw them at the slightest provocation.

Jin Xian walked to his side. Blankly, she stared up at him, waiting.

Hui stared at her for the space of a few breaths, still tensed. At last, he huffed out a breath. So you can only surface sometimes, Elder Sister. Dont worry. Ill care for you.

Mmm, thats good, Jin Xian said. Black swirled in her eyes, temporarily banishing the milky white.

Hui jumped back.

Jin Xian stood there as blankly as ever, no hint of color in her eyes.

Wrinkling his nose, Hui reached out and gestured, recalling her into his storage ring. Dont play pranks on this small cultivator, okay, Elder Sister? Youll give me a heart attack!

Across the field, Bai Xue and Liu Baozhai stared at each other warily. Both their snakes had shrunk greatly. Liu Baozhais was smaller than Bai Xues, though it still appeared greatly more real than Bai Xues.

Bai Xue broke first, lowering his fans. I think this is enough, dont you? I truly dont wish to injure such beauty. That snake behind you has been wilting for a while. Much longer, and you wont be able to keep up with my snakes stamina, isnt that right?

Hui narrowed his eyes at Bai Xue. Elder Sister, that phrasing is suspicious

Youre a formidable foe. Your bodily strength and fortitude cant match up to my White Jade body cultivation technique, but your magic techniques far surpass mine, Liu Baozhai replied. She lowered her fists, also unwilling to fight further.

Come by my vertebra any night, and well find out if I can match your bodily fortitude, Bai Xue said, winking.

Liu Baozhais brows furrowed faintly, her stiff face emanating disapproval.

Hui cleared his throat. I dont wish to fight either Elder Sister, if thats alright.

Bai Xue glanced at him, then grinned. Oh, how interesting. Xie Hao, so you are a small cultivator when it comes to your snake!

Hui glanced at the small shadow snake coiled in his hand. It laid there, withered and pale, barely hanging on. In the middle of battle, I forgot about it. Frowning, he stretched out his hand. The snake grew darker and larger, though still no longer than his hand.

I see! I see. Your snake might be small, but you have the stamina to last! Bai Xue said, eyes glittering.

Bai Xue er, Hong Xue, Hui complained. He tucked his hands around his snake, suddenly self-conscious about it. I dont want that licentious furnace staring at my snake! The hunger in those eyes isnt natural!

Im glad youve grasped a truth of this world. It isnt the size of the snake alone, but the dedication in grasping the technique of how to wield the snake! Those with large snakes might have an advantage, Bai Xue said, leaning on his own rather large shadow snake, but in the end, even small snakes can prove mighty, as long as one knows how to use theirs. Ah, you just destroyed that hideous puppeteer with ease, and did you see the size of his snake? When those with big snakes rest on their laurels and dont learn technique, the size is merely a waste!

Liu Baozhai emanated even more disapproval, though her stiff expression suggested that she didnt quite understand why.

Hui put his face in his hands. Hong Xue, please your phrasing is all wrong!

Bai Xue smirked. Is it?

Atop the stone throne, the snake ancestor began to clap. She laughed aloud. Interesting, interesting! I havent seen something so amusing in centuries. I think Ill let all three of you live.

Wiping her eyes, she raised her eyebrows at him. A silent pressure emanated from her.

Hui swallowed and pressed on. You arent actually the snake ancestor, are you?

The pressure grew stronger. Even so, the snake ancestor waited silently, eyebrows arched.

Or rather, to be precise you arent her remains, or her ghost, or even a scrap of her will. To be most accurate, youre a shed skin that gained sentience, arent you? A precious treasure she refined long ago! Im pretty sure Im right. Of everyone of any cultivator in Black Asp Sect, I might be the only one qualified to notice! When it comes to shedding ones skin aside from a snake cultivator or a snake spirit beast like Zhubi, theres no one better positioned to recognize shed skins aside from me!

The snake ancestor sat forward in her throne. Her eyes widened, and the pressure grew even stronger. Hui quailed under the pressure, sweat dripping down his back. I shouldnt have pointed it out. I shouldnt have

How interesting! You, who are not the inheritor Ive been waiting for, has so much karma with myself! You are correct. I am the ancestors shed skin.

Then are these bones truly your originators bones? Or is the true ancestor still out there, somewhere? Hui asked. After all, this isnt her ghost or a scrap of will inhabiting her remains, but instead, a shed skin hiding inside the realm inside the snake bones! The true ancestor could be anywhere!

The snake ancestor smiled mysteriously. Who can say? Though, truly, even I dont know. I was shed a great many ages ago, and when I awoke as a conscious being, I was already inside this realm hidden in the interior of Black Asp Sect. As to whether or not my originator still exists, thats a question I cannot answer.

She flicked her hand. A scrap of skin flew off and rushed to Huis side. He accepted it carefully. Although the dry filament seemed on the verge of breaking into dust, he could sense a great power inside it, far beyond his own strength.

Refine that into the skin youre wearing. It should help you understand that art I bestowed upon you in that scale, if nothing else. That and one last thing will I give you, false inheritor.

The snake ancestor stood and strode forward. Her robes shifted as she walked, always seemingly on the verge of revealing something, yet never revealing an inch more than it already did. She drew to the edge of the platform that held the throne and pointed at him. I was once a part of something Immortal, an eternal being that comprehended the very laws of this world. You should not have any karma with this world, trespasser, soul from another place! Your very existence is a contradiction. That you are able to cultivate is an impossibility.

Hui blinked. He nodded. I I know, Senior.

So tell me, visitor from afar. What are you? What kind of godly being are you, that you were able to pierce the void between worlds and arrive here?

Hui scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. Er I was an ordinary guy in my world. To tell the truth I spent most of my time getting beaten up and spat on. Rather than a godly being, I might have been the lowest of lowly beings.

That shouldnt be possible, the snake ancestor said.

Hui bowed apologetically. Im sorry, ancestor.

She waved her hand. In the end, Im only a skin that Immortal being shed. Its no surprise if my comprehension is lacking.

I know a certain Master who would certainly agree with that! Hui cried silently in his heart.

Wait. Master. Is is it possible Master knows how, or why, I transmigrated?

No, no. The snake ancestor only knows because shes a scrap of an Immortal being. Once Master ascends to immortality, hell certainly be able to comprehend it, but until then, I probably shouldnt ask.

The snake ancestor narrowed her eyes. I feel as though I was insulted just now.

N-never! Not this small cultivator, Hui said, shaking his head furiously.

She snorted and waved her hand. Then go. Im growing tired. I think its time to take another nap.

Huis body dissolved. He felt a strange, whirling sensation, and he hurtled upward, toward the top of the skeleton.